Even though there is a recipe for glass firing, it has never met Song Yang's requirements due to various reasons such as the kiln, technology, and steps.
Either there are too many bubbles or impurities, or the texture is so brittle that it crumbles when touched.
After burning for three days, Song Yang decided to give up.
He gave the task of burning glass to two girls.
Of course, girls’ focus always shifts to colorful things.
So Song Yang arranged another big job for them, mainly responsible for technology...
"Old Mo, please leave the glass to you."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, the common people will do their best to burn out the glass!"
"Yeah, yeah, just try your best, just try your best!"
This matter finally fell on Gongsun Qi’s father, Gongsun Mo, who is now the technical person in charge of glass firing.
Song Yang took Lao Mo to burn the glass twice, so that the old man could burn it himself.
The things that were produced were comparable to those produced by Song Yang. They were indeed from the same school.
The reason why I wanted to find Lao Mo was because a traveler like him had at least seen something like glass.
Most of the other craftsmen don't know what glass is.
Lao Mo was a bit older, so Song Yang also arranged an assistant for him, Wang Jinshi's youngest son Wang Muyue.
Wang Muyue's kiln fired well and had strength.
Moreover, he was a blacksmith by trade, so it was just right for him to make some glass molds, so the combination of an old man and a young man was very suitable.
Of course, the work in the glass kiln is lighter and more labor intensive than in the blacksmith shop, so Master Xiao Wang is also willing to come.
In short, the production of glass still requires a long time process.
…
Song Yang had no time to wait, because Liu Bao's one-to-one wooden-iron steam engine was ready.
After more than half a month of hard work, Liu Bao finally built a steam engine that could actually burn and operate according to Song Yang's requirements.
The size and proportion are exactly according to the dimensions given by Song Yang.
The main frame is a wooden structure, and the firebox, water tank and cylinder are made of iron sheets.
"Your Majesty, you have lived up to your command. The little one has been tested and can be burned." Liu Bao said with an excited smile.
Last night he finally got the steam engine out, and after trying it, he found that this thing could really move.
Although it is not very powerful, it does provide a certain amount of motivation.
If it were made entirely of cast iron, it should be able to provide considerable power.
Song Yang rubbed his hands and looked around the steam engine. This steam engine was 1.2 meters high (the exhaust pipe was 1.5 meters high) and 1.5 meters long. It was a horizontal steam engine.
The entire steam engine weighs almost 200 kilograms, and it is an iron box with a wooden frame. It would cost at least a thousand kilograms to make an inch of iron.
The styling does look like the Industrial Revolution.
In fact, the drawings Song Yang took out were not Watt steam engines, but similar to those on trains.
"Come on, let's burn it and see!" Song Yang said impatiently.
Liu Bao has already operated it once, and he is familiar with it again.
Fill the water tank with water and add charcoal to the fire box.
The charcoal fire is ignited and the temperature of the fire box gradually increases.
A firebox that burns charcoal boils the water tank above to generate steam, which enters the cylinder along the pores.
When steam enters the cylinder, it pushes the sliding valve and steam valve to start doing work.
When the sliding valve and steam valve reach the other end of the cylinder, the steam is discharged from the exhaust port at the other end.
The movable valve changes position and the air inlet inputs steam from the other end, and the movable valve and the steam valve move in opposite directions.
At this point, one steam stroke ends, and the steam engine is born.
"Haha! It's done! It's really done!" Song Yang laughed.
This is the happiest thing since he came to this world, bar none.
The steam engine represents the beginning of the industrial revolution. With this thing, productivity will be greatly improved.
Song Yang had even imagined the scene of a train running on the railroad tracks.
"Old Wang! What do you think of this thing? Is it easy to build?"
Song Yang pulled Wang Jinshi and asked.
In fact, the water tank and firebox of Liu Bao's steam engine were both made by Wang Jinshi.
He already knew the general principles and production methods of steam engines.
"Your Majesty, it is not difficult to make a steam engine as a whole."
"However, there are several problems that may not be easy to solve, such as the sealing of the water tank and cylinder, as well as the strength of the connection points of the pipes and air valves, which may not meet the requirements."
"The inner wall of the steam box also needs to be polished very smooth to make the piston move, which is also time-consuming and labor-intensive."
"And the grassroots feel that there is a lot of power here. You can see that the iron sheet is expanding when it is pushed on, so we need to take measures to fix and reinforce it."
"So polishing and making the cylinder may take some work..."
Wang Jinshi had already analyzed these places yesterday, and when Song Yang asked him, he just mentioned them.
"There's no rush. I'll just make a version of the steel steam engine based on this and some of your improvement suggestions. Get the thing out first, and then we'll slowly improve it." Song Yang pointed at the steam engine and said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Jinshi nodded.
"Um... the common people still have a question." Wang Jinshi looked at the steam engine and then at Song Yang and asked.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"How does this thing provide power to the machine? I think this thing can only move forward and backward?" Wang Jinshi asked with some confusion.
Song Yang smiled and said: "I have overlooked it, but there are actually some parts called crankshaft connecting rods, which can make circular motions by connecting them with the crankshaft connecting rods."
The force provided by today's waterwheels is a continuous force in one direction, which is completely different from that of a steam engine.
Craftsmen with such power as steam engines have never seen it before, and it’s no wonder Wang Jinshi doesn’t understand.
Song Yang casually drew the drawings of the crankshaft connecting rod and steam wheel.
"That's it. Master Wang, you start with the steam engine. This crankshaft connecting rod is easy to make. Once the steam engine is built, you're done."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
The first-generation steam engine with a wooden body and iron cover only ran for less than half an hour before stopping.
The iron sheet was too thin, causing serious air leakage. The temperature of the firebox was too high, and the surrounding wooden frame was almost burning.
In short, there are many problems. It turns out that wood cannot be used to make steam engines...
However, these problems can be overcome.
Song Yang believed that with Blacksmith Wang's forging skills and his advanced knowledge, he could make a steam engine.
As for the minor problems mentioned by Wang Jinshi, they can be improved gradually.
Song Yang didn't put much pressure on Wang Jinshi, and there wasn't even a time limit.
Just use whatever you want, as long as you can get it done.
For Song Yang's trust, Wang Jinshi patted his chest and promised that he would build the steel steam engine as soon as possible.
"Okay, okay. If you need manpower and material support, just tell Lao Fang. I will say hello to him later and give you my full support!" Song Yang encouraged Wang Jinshi by patting him on the shoulder.